Weekley Fantasy Art

As I told you last week my blog will feature a weekly post dedicated to Fantasy art. You know by now that I’m a passionate reader and a lover of Fantasy genre. As I told you my love for fantasy walks on the art path too, so I hope I can delight you weekly (I can’t promise it weekly because of my work schedule, but I’ll try it) with works and artists that touch this genre. I hope you will enjoy these new posts and if you had suggestions I'll be happy to hear them.

The first post is dedicated to Kerem Beyit and his works. Kerem Beyit was born in Ankara, Turkey in 1980. He studied graphic design at the department of graphics of Gazi University. Without a proper training in illustration he taught himself with the help of the works of Frank Frazetta and Gerald Brom. He is working in digital area for four years and he was awarded on several websites and communities for digital artists. Also his works were selected for two albums, Exposé and Exotique, published by Ballistic Publishing. Among his works we find a number of book covers and he is currently working as a freelance artist.

Interview Kerem Beyit

Dark Wolf: Kerem, thank you for the opportunity of this interview. For start, can you trace your passion for art in time? When did you become aware of your talent?

Kerem Beyit: Although I wasn’t particularly aware of it as a kid, I remember thinking I wasn’t too shabby. However, it was 2004 when I focused on the talent and decided to improve it.

Dark Wolf: Which are your favorite artists and which one, in particular, influenced your works?

Kerem Beyit: If I had to give a name that has impressed me since my childhood and has taken me to places with his works, it would be Frazetta. But there are hundreds of artists that inspires and affects me, and among them Jim Murray, Raymond Swanland and Todd Lockwood are my top three I guess.

DW: From the different techniques used (the traditional painting, drawing and the modern digital one), which one do you prefer in particular?KB: Of course I’ll vote for digital since I’m very accustomed to the convenience and advantages it provides. When I want to try something new, I don’t think twice before putting it into practice on the canvas, if it doesn’t turn out to be as I expected, I simply go back. I’m so used to this that while I’m drawing on my table and do something wrong, I look for the ctrl-z button as a reflex :)

DW: Working in the modern computerized method involves drawing the same work on paper first?

KB: I usually start my process with sketching on paper, but this is not a must, there are pieces which I directly started on the computer. That depends on your preference, sometimes you start with lines, and sometimes with forms.

DW: I read on your website that you had a period of time without drawing. How hard was it for you to be a part of your passion?KB: I wasn’t planning on an illustration career back then anyway, so it wasn’t really hard for me, the hard part came later on when I decided to make a career out of illustrating, it was pretty bitter realizing how many years I had wasted. But I was able to cut my losses and go on, that’s the important thing here.

DW: I’ve seen a great range of Fantasy art among your works. Is this your favorite theme? What attracted you to this genre?

KB: Usually, it’s the clients who make that choice for me. I mean, most of the job offers I get are related to fantasy genre and you know what, I’m really good at sci-fi and macabre as well :) But I’m not complaining because I enjoy working on fantasy-themed pieces tremendously.

DW: Now I eye picked your site and I saw that you like R.A. Salvatore’s “Dark Elf” series. Did you made any personal drawings of Drizzt? Would you like to make a cover for these novels?

KB: No, but I want to. It’s kind of difficult to find the time for doing fanart. I would love to do Drizzt covers but Lockwood has already done a hell of a job so I don’t think its particularly necessary :)

DW: Your portfolio has a great number of drawings of dragons. Are you fond of these mythical creatures or is only a working interest?

KB: I love drawing dragons, any kind of creature for that matter since I feel more liberated while drawing something that does not have a represantative in nature.

DW: I’ve seen that you did a number of covers for books. Can you name some of them, please? And can you tell me what involves the work for a book cover?

KB: I haven’t done many book covers lately, I’m very preoccupied with improving my portfolio. But in the past, I made cover arts for Bernard Cromwell’s Arthur, and Steven Brust’s Taltos series, for the Turkish versions that is.

Doing book covers requires a harmonious relationship with editors. It’s important to acquire the necessary info by reading the book, or at least a short summary of it in order to fully understand the characters. Then you should attach importance to visualizing them in an as impressive fashion as possible.

DW: Which was the most rewarding time in your career so far?

KB: I’m only at the beginning of my career, so I haven’t really been through a rewarding phase. But having been awarded in cg websites and been included in the major annual albums did make me feel good.

DW: I know that every artist loves all his works, but there is one in particular closer to your heart or do you consider one better than the others?

KB: Actually, I don’t really like my own works, I get bored with them real quick.

DW: I read on your website that you are now working as a freelance artist? What advantages do you have as a freelance artist?

KB: Do you have time? :) Seriously though, there are so many. I grew to like working as a freelance artist so much that I can’t even picture myself in an inhouse position because for me working freelance means determining my own hours in the comfort of my home which provides an absolutely stress-free working environment.

DW: Which opportunity of work would be hard to refuse for you? Would you like to work with a person or a company in particular?

KB: Well, I’m not too picky about offers and when I do refuse a job offer, I always have a good reason to. So, no there’s no hardship involved. Sometimes I get offers asking for a theme that I really want to work on but due to the insufficent budget they have, I have no choice but to refuse them although I feel bad about it.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a company or an individual as long as the result is going to be something I’ll be proud of and I receive the reimbursement for my work, I’m in.

DW: What projects do you have for the future?

KB: I have comic book projects in waiting because we’re having problems with financing. Other than that, I have an artbook project I’m currently working on which is due to be published in 2009. I’m diligently creating new pieces for it and for my portfolio every day. When I reach the level I’m aiming for, I’ll present my portfolio to several RPG publishers.

Thank you very much for your answers and for your time, Kerem. It has been a pleasure.

Thanks, cheers

KB

For a more vast collection of Kerem's art, for his portofolio and any other information you can visit his website, The Art of Kerem Beyit.

I had not heard of this artist before, but I really like the work! Thanks so much for spotlighting him, I'll be on the lookout in the future! I think my favorite of this group is First Lesson, but the detail on them all is wonderful!